Press Release

NUJ(I) delegations calls on President of India

New Delhi: A high level delegation of National Union of Journalists (India) called on President of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee and demanded enactment of a Journalists Protection Law and constitution of Media Commission and Media Council. The delegation, led by NUJ(I) president Ras Bihari, also presented him a memorandum containing major demands of journalists. The delegation consisted of eight members including former NUJ(I) president Dr Nandkishore Trikha, National Treasurer Dadhibal Yadav, Press Association secretary Manoj Verma, DJA president Anil Pandey, general secretary Anand Rana, NUJ national executive member Pramod Majumdar and Sushri Seema Kiran.

Ras Bihari informed the President that the NUJ(I) has been demanding enactment of a Journalists Protection Law and constitution of Media Council and Media Commission for the last five years and it has staged several demonstrations also. On December 7, 2015 more than 2000 journalists from all over the country protested outside the Parliament and presented a memorandum to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said the NUJ(I) state units also staged demonstrations at more than 100 places and presented memorandums to Governors and Chief Ministers. The memorandums to Prime Ministers were submitted through the authorities concerned at district level.

Referring to the attack on journalists in Patiala House court recently the NUJ delegation said such attacks can be curbed through a Journalists Protection Act. The enactment of the Act will help in speedy action against the culprits and the mediapersons will be able to work more freely under the protection of the Law.

Dr Trikha apprised the President of the necessity of constituting the Media Commission and Media Council. He said the nature and the scenario of the media have totally changed after the second Press Commission Report submitted in 1982. Hence, there is dire need to study the ground reality of the media today through a Media Commission.